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Related to our design exercise from section this week--check out what new blended learning models caught the eye of the Gates Foundation. "Next Generation Learning Challenges (NGLC), an initiative dedicated to improving college readiness and completion, today announced grants totaling $5.4 million for 13 new models of personalized, blended learning at the secondary and postsecondary levels."

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Next Generation Learning Challenges, a collaborative, multi-year initiative, which aims to help dramatically improve college readiness and college completion in the United States through the use of technology.

Professor Clayton Christensen says, now more than ever, online education is ready for disruption.

This is a very interesting follow-up to the topic we saw a few weeks ago in class!

Data on college preparedness.

Paul Horwitz's Evolution Readiness program is highlighted

Michael Horn on barriers to blended learning

From Michael Horn at the Innosight Institute 

Badgestack and Longwood U combine forces to offer students a head start on what they need to know to succeed in today's work force.

State of technology to use in Disruptive innovation

Projector AR technology - not ready for market yet, but still very cool

Intrinsic motivation couple with mentorship really helps!

There could be some real potential here for use of grants beyond the television screen. I'd be interested to track how this money is allocated across platforms, especially emerging ones like apps for phones/iPads.

AR not ready for prime time because of inaccurate GPS data and apps that only provide information about locations within the user's line of sight.

This is discussed in the Productivity section of the NETP

Arizona is taking an interesting view on seat-time http://news.yahoo.com/high-school-less-four-years-070000848.html Hundreds of schools in Arizona are being given the chance to opt into an initiative called Move On When Ready where students are allowed to graduate after their sophomore year based on proving academic achievement. Some are arguing that it is the same option as getting a G.E.D. after one turns 16 but I would argue that there is a negative connotation to having a G.E.D. versus a high school diploma and that this program provides a way for students to achieve a diploma without "putting in" four years of high school seat-time.

Ed Week has a free online issue called Digital Directions which is devoted to educational technologies. The download includes articles devoted to broadband needs, technology readiness, and the technology demands of the Common Core.

I would be interested to know why she is stepping down - the article doesn't address her reason for leaving. In fact, based on another article from last week, I got the impression that she would be serving in this position for at least a couple more years: https://www.edsurge.com/n/karen-cator-doe-is-ready-for-second-term

Interesting article to read considering the changes (curricular, ed technological, etc.) that have happened in the paper four years...

Western Governors University (WGU) is a hybrid inputs/outcomes model on online education. Each student has an adviser; competency is assessed initially; students can exit classes when ready; you pay one price ($5K/half year), and may consume as many classes in that period as desired.

Similar to MIT's Scratch, Globaloria positions itself as helping students develop STEM knowledge, digital literacy skills, and college readiness through game design. The program markets itself as a blended learning model.